More than 250,000 hens clucked as the big bird touched down briefly with its air ambulance crew. in Catton, near Thirsk.

It has around 700 acres and supplies around 100 million eggs every year to ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury and Co-op throughout Yorkshire and Humber.

Potters recently revealed how their hens lay more and better quality eggs when they play them music by pop star Ed Sheeran, who comes from nearby Hebden Bridge, with songs Little Bird and Lay It All on Me.

Director James Potter, explaining the fundraising, said: “As well as buying our high quality eggs, we believe customers prefer to buy a product that also supports vital charities in our area. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance saves lives, so we’re really proud to be partnering with them.

"We believe in giving back to the communities we live and work in, and are passionate about building strong corporate, social and environmental responsibilities into our business. We regularly host school visits and aim to become carbon neutral by the end of the year."

Helen Callear, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance's Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “We are thrilled with the fundraising amount. It may surprise people to know our charity relies entirely on the generosity of individuals and organisations, like Potters Eggs. To keep two air ambulances in the air costs £12,000 per day.”

A cracking fundraiser- donating 1p from every dozen sales of James Potter eggs - has raised 50,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year.

Its ageing helicopters are being replaced with two new £6m state-of-the-art Airbus H145 models, one to be based at RAF Topclilffe, just a few fields away from Potter’s farm.

Yorkshire cricket legend and YAA patron Geoffrey Boycott recently helped to unveil the first one at the charity’s Nostell Priory base in Wakefield and revealed how a letter he sent to then Chancellor George Osborne resulted in the government making a £1million donation to the charity, following his own £35,000 fundraiser.